Nys, Cant Repeat Weekend’s Victories at Superprestige-Gavere: Full Report, Photos, Results

Sven Nys and Philipp Walsleben on the straight away. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

GAVERE, BELGIUM – Sven Nys (Crelan-KDL) took his second win of the weekend, overtaking Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus) in the final moments at Superprestige Asper-Gavere.

Marcel Meisen (Kwardo-Stannah) and Lars Van der Haar (Rabobank) led early in the race, with Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoeon Games) just behind. Niels Albert (BKCP Powerplus) and Nys were well behind the lead group heading up the first and second chase groups respectively.

By mid race it was a four-man lead consisting of Vantornout, Walsleben, Albert and Van der Haar with Nys leading the pursuit 16 seconds down.

The cards continued to shuffle with Albert dropping back after a slide into the course tape on a slick descent, and by two laps to go, Nys had joined Walsleben with a 13 second advantage over the “race for third” forming up behind.

The two men seemed evenly matched going into the final lap, with Walsleben initially opening a small gap on a long run. Nys closed it up to sit comfortably on Walsleben’s wheel, and then took the opportunity to attack when Walsleben’s gears jammed on one of the climbs. The German quickly got things sorted out and passed Nys on a subsequent climb to the pits.

It seemed for a moment that Walsleben might be stronger of the two but in a characteristic last minute attack, Nys surged ahead before hitting the final stretch of pavement, holding on through the finish.

“I felt that I had the good lines and that I was not over my limit in the race, and, two laps before the end, you need to have contact with first place. And I had it on the right moment, and I knew Philipp was really strong in the sprint, so I had to do something in the last half lap,” said Nys.

“This is a race in which you never must get into panic or in nerves. In this race the strongest will always win. In a race like Gavere, you need to ride your own pace all the time and don’t react to all the accelerations. My condition is good, so I knew it was possible to move up to the front after my bad start. I attacked Walsleben just before the final corner. I had to come up with something because in a sprint I would have lost. ”

In the Elite Women’s race Sanne Cant (Enertherm-BKCP) repeated her victory at GP Hasselt on Saturday with a win over Helen Wyman (Kona Factory Team). Nikki Harris (Telenet-Fidea) finished third, 13 seconds down on Wyman, after losing ground in the last lap in part due to receiving a pit bike with the front brake open.

Sanne Cant wins Superprestige Gavere 2013. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

“This is awesome. I don’t think I have ever won two races in one weekend. I am really excited,” said Cant. “I didn’t expected this. This is a beautiful race but normally not something I prefer. I can’t remember I was that good here once. Today I felt great and never worried about accelerations and attacks of Nikki.”

Disappointed with her result, Wyman was hoping to be in better form after also finishing second to Cant the previous day. “I was always so close, almost there but not quite there. I don’t know, maybe I didn’t go fast enough in a few sections. But I tried as hard as I could and I always seemed to be at the same distance, and I just didn’t seem to be able to close the gap,” said Wyman.

Superprestige-Gavere 2013 Photo Gallery:

2013 Superprestige-Gavere Elite Men's Results:

2013 Superprestige-Gavere Elite Women's Results: